After another two days of travel, they had completely left the capital’s territory behind.
The snow outside had finally disappeared, making the roads much easier to walk on.
Firewood also burned more easily now.
But water had become difficult to obtain, so Bai Zhi’s group began conserving it carefully.
They only had one full water pouch left.
Bai Zhi secretly checked the map.
According to the route, they should pass a river today.
But in weather this cold, the river was probably frozen solid.
Getting water would be another problem entirely.
Sure enough, before nightfall they spotted a river.
Everyone burst into excited cheers.
The convoy stopped outside a ruined temple not far from the riverbank.
The temple wasn’t very large, and everyone immediately rushed inside.
Bai Zhi didn’t bother fighting for space.
Instead, she checked the wind direction and led the others to the east side of the temple, which conveniently blocked the wind.
Another person had chosen the same location.
It was Wei Zhihang, the second son of the Minister of Revenue’s family.
He appeared to have quarreled with his family and was sitting alone not far from them.
Wrapped in a blanket, he had already lain down and started gnawing on coarse cornbread.
Bai Zhi’s group cleaned the ground and began preparing dinner.
Since they could fetch water today, they could finally finish the remaining water in their last water pouch.
Millet porridge simmered in the iron pot while Bai Zhi stuck several vegetable pancakes along the inner sides of the pot to heat them.
Loud arguing erupted from inside the ruined temple, mixed with guards shouting and the crack of whips.
Not long afterward, a large group of people was driven outside.
Among them were the Minister of Revenue’s family and some general’s family.
But the largest number expelled were the wealthy merchant’s strongmen and concubines.
Only the women serving as bedwarmers were allowed to stay inside.
The temple entrance faced south.
Bai Zhi’s group sat against the eastern wall, and with a slight lean they could clearly see everything happening outside the entrance.
The strongmen stood glaring viciously toward the temple interior.
Every day they worked the hardest, yet they didn’t even have proper bedding.
The luggage they carried all belonged to the merchant.
At night they could only huddle together in padded clothing for warmth.
If there hadn’t been so many of them generating body heat together, they would probably have frozen to death already.
What surprised Bai Zhi most was the Crown Prince’s family.
They had somehow secured a place inside the temple.
Had someone secretly taken care of them?
Or had they simply brought enough silver?
The pancakes were ready.
These had been made by mixing shredded potatoes and carrots into the dough with salt for seasoning, so they still tasted flavorful even without meat sauce.
Each person ate two vegetable pancakes and a bowl of chestnut millet porridge until they were full.
It was already too late tonight, so they decided to leave the iron pot unwashed until morning.
Fetching water at night was too dangerous.
Bai Zhi planned to wake early tomorrow morning to collect water and wash their faces.
Honestly, it had been far too long since they last washed properly.
As usual, they first heated the ground with burning firewood before laying down the oilcloth and mattress.
Then the three of them covered themselves with padded robes and quilts and prepared to sleep.
Even without hot-water bottles, the ground retained warmth and the wall blocked the wind.
They actually slept fairly comfortably.
But not long after falling asleep, they were awakened by loud shouting.
It sounded like people cheering about something.
Xiao Yu also woke groggily.
“What are they yelling about?”
Wei Zhihang answered from nearby:
“Someone caught a fish while fetching water. They’re roasting it now.”
Even while lying down, they could see the firelight near the riverbank.
Looks like someone really had caught fish.
“Wei Zhihang, you’re still awake? How can you hear everything so clearly?”
Wei Zhihang gave a bitter laugh.
“It’s too cold. I can’t sleep at all. Tomorrow I definitely won’t slack off anymore. I’m making a fire too.”
The noise continued for nearly an hour before finally settling down.
Just as everyone was about to fall asleep again, chaos suddenly erupted once more.
“Help! Someone fell into the water! Help!”
Wei Zhihang, who wasn’t far away, shot upright and sprinted toward the riverbank.
Another round of shouting followed.
Wei Zhihang never returned that entire night.
The next morning, Bai Zhi and Xiao Yu woke especially early.
Faint crying could still be heard near the temple entrance.
Bai Zhi glanced over and saw the Minister of Revenue’s family crying together.
Wei Zhihang stood nearby as well.
The two of them didn’t ask questions.
Instead, they carried the iron pot upstream for a short distance.
Bai Zhi observed the ice carefully.
This section remained smooth and untouched.
No one had probably come here yet.
She stopped Xiao Yu.
“Don’t come over yet. Let me check first.”
Bai Zhi reshaped the rim of the iron pot into a sharp protrusion.
Then she stood by the riverbank and slammed it forcefully into the ice.
The ice cracked open with a hole.
Bai Zhi reached down and tested it with her finger.
The ice seemed about ten centimeters thick.
Probably enough to support her weight.
She stepped farther forward and smashed the ice again.
Once.
Twice.
Three times.
Soon a circular hole opened in the ice surface.
Bai Zhi washed the pot several times in the freezing water before filling it directly from the river and carrying it back to shore.
By then, Xiao Yu had already built a crude stone stove and lit the branches.
Bai Zhi placed the pot over the fire and started heating water.
The moment the water became warm, the two immediately began washing their faces.
At this point they didn’t care that the iron pot was technically for cooking.
They simply dipped towels into the pot, wrung them out, and wiped their faces repeatedly until they were finally clean.
Bai Zhi pulled out face cream from inside her clothes.
Both of them smeared on thick layers, including on their hands.
Then Bai Zhi took out a packet of powdered “dai” makeup from her clothes and evenly spread a layer across her face.
In an instant, Bai Zhi became “Dark Zhi” again.
After cleaning the towels and rinsing the iron pot once more in the river, they filled it again.
This time it was for refilling the water pouches.
As for Xiao Zelan, he would have to wash last.
Once the three water pouches were full, the two of them carried a pot of hot water back to the ruined temple.
Xiao Zelan had already rolled up the bedding and folded the oilcloth neatly.
Xiao Yu hurried over.
“Brother, you could’ve waited for us to come back. Your legs still aren’t convenient.”
Xiao Zelan smiled lightly.
“It’s alright. My legs have actually improved lately. My left leg can already support my weight normally now. Doing this much is fine.”
All three of them were pleasantly surprised.
After leaving the capital, they had all assumed Xiao Zelan’s condition would worsen.
Instead, he had actually improved slightly.
At this point, they could rule out the medicinal baths.
The improvement was probably due to the plasters and moxibustion.
Xiao Yu carried over the hot water and used a bowl to pour it onto the towel so Xiao Zelan could wash his face.
There was no helping it.
The remaining water still needed to be drunk later.
After Xiao Zelan finished washing, Bai Zhi applied face cream to him.
Just as she was rubbing it onto his face, a man and woman approached them.
“Fifth Brother… could we borrow a padded coat?”